The First Hall of the Civil Court, presided over by Judge Joseph Azzopardi, found last week that an advertising brochure published by well-known beautician Marion Mizzi on behalf of Myoka Spa of the Corinthia Group damaged former employee Patricia Vella because, having left the employment of the salon, she had not given her permission for photographs of her to be used in the brochure.

Ms Vella had previously been employed to run the Corinthia salon, which was when the photographs had been taken.

In her defence, Ms Mizzi argued that the photo shoot had been organised by Ms Vella herself and the photographs had been used in previous brochures. As a sign of goodwill, she had ordered new brochures at great personal cost and had stopped using the brochures referred to in the case, once the new brochures were available.

The court said Ms Mizzi had no right to use the photographs, once Ms Vella was no longer in the salon’s employment, nor should Ms Mizzi have given them to the Corinthia Group.

Thus Ms Vella’s rights had been infringed. However, as Ms Vella had not brought any proof of damages sustained, the Court abstained from a decision regarding damages.